Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471699
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 JUNE 2022 17 COMMERCIAL Innovation and sustainability at The Xara Collection THE Zammit Tabona Family, together with the management of The Xara Collection, hold the culture of sustainability close to heart. This core value is re- flected in all practices adopted throughout the vast portfolio of the Xara Collection. This is also reflected in the buying behaviour of all demograph- ics, which is showing a shift in favour of environmentally con- scious businesses and brands; in particular those with a tangible commitment to safeguarding future generations. Through Xara Gardens, the owning family and management, with the guidance and expertise of young expert farmer Cane Vella and Sustainable Resource Innovator Michael Bourne, are actively and perceptibly looking for a more sustainable way of doing business. The Xara Collection is essen- tially a pioneer in investing in innovative practices in sustain- able growth. At the Xara Gar- dens, 50% of the vegetables used in the various restaurants and The Xara Palace Relais & Cha- teaux forming part of The Xara Collection portfolio are home- grown. Waste food recycling, upscal- ing of waste material including wood and carton boxes amongst others, storage of rain water and water retention techniques in the fields to reduce water required for irrigation, no pes- ticides (through companion planting) are all great addition- al sustainable concepts that add more value to the work done at the Xara Gardens. Through Xara Gardens, a space found a stone's throw away from the Xara Lodge; farming experts and chefs work together to establish which sea- sonal crops to grow that will ultimately find themselves on the menus of the various restau- rants; guaranteeing not only the freshest of ingredients but also a solid reduction in fuel miles that would result from deliver- ies on trucks from third party suppliers. The end result being a true farm to fork experience for our clients. The practices and techniques adopted in the Xara Gardens are not a well-kept secret. On the contrary, the management is happy to showcase the learn- ing curve to any business stake- holders or colleagues in the in- dustry willing to learn more and optimistically implement some of these practices within their business operation too. At Xara Gardens, education is not limit- ed to businesses alone, as man- agement is constantly educating internal staff on the importance of sustainable business. At the recent Mediterrane- an Tourism Forum Gala Din- ner held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre; The Xara Collection's sustainability effort was acknowledged with the In- novation Sustainability Award. A reward we hold with great pride as it gives us further drive to keep focused on our sustaina- ble growth. Commenting about this, Jus- tin Zammit Tabona; Director of The Xara Collection "We are all very proud of our continuous efforts to push our gastronomic boundaries through our unique sustainable project at Xara Gar- dens by making a better world through Cuisine and hospitality and continually pushing to put Malta on the International gas- tronomic map." Brilliant season for Frank Salt Real Estate Sliema ASC THE 2021 season was a strong finish for the Sliema boys, after securing two winter tro- phies: the Enemed Cup and Winter League, winning the latter title for the first time in nine years – and team sponsors Frank Salt Real Es- tate couldn't be any prouder! With the extension of Senior Head Coach Be- to Fernandez's contract for another two years, the club is confident that summer will be just as spectacular! This is already clear in the positive results during the preliminary rounds of the current national championship. "It goes with- out saying that I am extremely happy to have been appointed as Head Coach of this glorious club. My sole ambition now is to restore the club to its past glories; something I am looking forward to undertaking", said coach Beto. The club is buzzing with activity – last winter saw the most expensive signing in local water polo; that of Dino Zammit from San Giljan. Four Sliema players also had the opportunity to play overseas: Jamie Gambin played with Lazio Nuoto in Serie A1, whilst Matthew Mifsud, Li- am Galea and Benji Cachia played in the Cat- alan League. The club also recruited Zoran Maslovar as Academy Head Coach. Sliema ASC youths, Jayden Cutajar and Sam Engerer won 'Player of the Year' in the U15 and U13 categories respectively, while Jayden Cuta- jar also made it to the final of the 62nd edition of the SportMalta awards under the category of male youth 'athlete of the year'. And if the winter season wasn't a success- ful one enough, so far the Sliema ASC legends have secured wins at most matches played in the preliminary round of this summer's nation- al championship. Frank Salt Real Estate is proud to have been supporting this team for practically all of the last decade, seeing it go from strength to strength. "Our company and Sliema ASC share the same goal – being at the top of the game. And with investing in their players and secur- ing the services of a fantastic coach, the results speak for themselves", says Frank Salt Director, Grahame Salt.